October U.S. sales jumped by 15%

FCA US (Fiat Chrysler) delivered 195,545 cars and light trucks in the U.S. in October, 15% over last October and a gain of 1.3% from an impressive September. It was the best October since 2001.

FCA US notched its 67th consecutive month of year-over-year sales improvements, with all brands reporting higher sales. Jeep gained its 25th consecutive month of improvements, with an increase of 33% driven by the new Renegade and record sales of the Compass and Patriot. Every Jeep except the Grand Cherokee posted a double-digit improvement.

The Dodge Challenger reported its ninth sales record of 2015: sales were up 31% for the month. The Journey set its seventh sales record of the year as increased 37%. Total Dodge brand sales were up by 12%. Ram, too, had its best October since 2003.

Cars which set new October sales records were the Jeep Patriot (up 56%), the Jeep Compass (42%), and the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Journey, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler and the Ram ProMaster.

The company finished the month with 625,092 vehicles in inventory, an above-average 90-day supply.

Bill Cawthon grew up in the auto industry in the 1950s. His Dad worked for Chrysler and Bill spent a number of Saturdays down on the plant floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck. Bill is also the U.S. market correspondent for just-auto.com, a British auto industry publication, and a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association, which has named the Jeep Grand Cherokee the “SUV of Texas” several times and named the Ram 1500 as the “Truck of Texas” two years running.

Bill has owned five Plymouths (including the only 1962 “Texan”), one Dodge and one Chrysler and is still trying to figure out how to justify a Wrangler. He also has owned at least one of every 1:87 scale model of a Chrysler product. You can reach him directly at (206) 888-7324 or by using the form.